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Protest groups are moving forward with plans to picket the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition in Melbourne this year.
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The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, hosted by the AMDA Foundation, is intended to provide a venue of engagement between industry, Defence, research outlets, academia, and government.
It’s understood that anti-war groups, Wage Peace - Disrupt War as well as Whistleblowers, Activists & Communities Alliance are planning to rally against the major defence industry event held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11 to 13 September this year. A “Disrupt Land Forces Public Meeting” has been announced to be held this month at Black Spark Cultural Centre, Northcote, on 21 June.
“A massive weapons fair is coming to Naarm (Melbourne) in September. Land Forces brings harms dealers, generals and ’defence’ officials together to do the deals that end in genocide,” according to a public statement released by Disrupt War.
“Billions change hands at these events. Boeing, Lockheed, BAE, Raytheon, Elbit – all the worst weapon dealers will be there spruiking their wares.
“We kicked em out of Magandjin (Brisbane). Now let’s kick them out of Naarm (Melbourne).”
Earlier this week, pro-Palestinian activists vandalised and sprayed red paint on the offices of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, as well as targeting the Victorian Defence Capabilities Conference.
Protester and Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt also attended a Free Palestine rally in Melbourne.
“The Greens will move in Parliament to recognise the State of Palestine,” Bandt said in a public statement.
“Overnight Ireland, Norway and Spain did – meaning 146 out of 193 UN members have recognised Palestine as an independent state. Australia should join them.
“Recognition alone won’t stop the invasion – but it is a concrete step towards peace. It affirms the right of Palestinians to self-determination and statehood, a right enshrined in international law and supported by many United Nations resolutions.
“Labor must stop the two-way arms trade with Israel, sanction Netanyahu and his war cabinet, expel the Israeli ambassador and stop backing this invasion of Gaza.”
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, speaking at a press conference in Adelaide on 31 May, addressed reports that her own office had been targeted by protesters.
“The first thing I’d say is in this country, workers have a right to be safe and to feel safe. Workers everywhere. And what we have seen are protests which go beyond peaceful protests. We have a right to peaceful protest in this country, but we should rightly condemn protests which are violent, and which are hateful and aggressive,” she said.
“What I would say to Adam Bandt, as leader of the Greens which has been part of these protests, that he should condemn the sort of violence we have seen, including the smashing of windows. That’s not acceptable in this country.
“I understand and I share the depth of concern, the depth of feeling that Australians have about what is occurring in Gaza and what is occurring in Rafah. And I have made, on behalf of this country, very strong statements, as has the Prime Minister. We have said to Israel, do not go down this path. We have taken diplomatic efforts in the United Nations and bilaterally to pressure Israel to not go down this path and to continue to put pressure on Israel to ensure it does comply with international humanitarian law. Civilians should be protected.
“But the depth of the feelings that people have does not justify in this country a resort to violent protest. And Mr Bandt should act as a leader and make that clear.
“I think if you speak to many workers who are being confronted with what they have seen over a long period of time, including the occupation of offices and the destruction of property, I think people have felt unsafe. I think all we have, all workers have a right to feel safe. We have a right to peaceful protest and people should exercise that responsibly.”
